The Real Story Behind Beyonce and Jay-Z’s Houston Steakhouse Obsession — and Special Private Jet Takeout
There is Personal Service — and Then There's What the Celeb Super Couple Gets at B&B Butchers
BY Annie Gallay // 05.14.19Beyonce and Jay-Z rooted for the Rockets. (Photo by Bob Levey, Getty Images)
Move over, Frenchy’s — it looks like Queen Bey might just have a new favorite Bayou City restaurant. Beyonce shared some special B&B Butchers takeout with Jay-Z on their private jet.
After cozying up in the front row for Game 6 of the Rockets-Warriors series at Toyota Center, Bey and Jay tucked into their plane for a feast.
And they went hard. This wasn’t just a case of a quick bite. It was a full-on spread, heavy on the seafood — King Crab, calamari, crab cakes, lamb bacon and brisket ravioli. That’s just for the main event.
To round it all off, the A-listers chowed down on sides like onion rings, mac ‘n cheese, corn soufflé and creamed spinach. Then, they wrapped up the jet meal with one of Jay-Z’s all-time favorite sweets: banana pudding.
Beyonce and Jay-Z are longtime fans of B&B Butchers owner Benjamin Berg’s work. On Mother’s Day 2016, roughly a year after B&B Butchers opened, the duo snuck through the back entrance into the butcher room for a private meal. The music legends are actually the only celebs to ever use the back entrance. Other eager celeb carnivores, including J.J. Watt, Billy Bob Thornton and Carlos Santana, all used the front entrance, though they were protected by security guards. But then again, there’s probably no one on earth more high-profile than the “Lemonade” songstress.
Bey and her main man have either eaten at or picked up from B&B on almost every trip they’ve made to Houston in the last few years. Sometimes they even snag the entire upstairs space for themselves.
It’s all because Berg has gained Beyonce’s personal assistant’s trust. The two text when Beyonce and Jay-Z have plans for an evening of B&B eats. They’ve exchanged numbers, and her assistant sends orders to Berg’s cell directly.
Berg always makes it happen, not even telling his staff that the icons are making an appearance until right beforehand, and then ensuring they respect the couple’s privacy.
Berg’s elevated steakhouse-meets-chophouse also clearly satisfies the power couple’s cravings. That’s really no surprise, considering B&B Butchers made the cut for the 31 Best Steakhouses in America.
Hollywood Houston
B&B saw a lot of Hollywood action this past weekend. Other dazzling stars shook up the spot. Game of Thrones heavy hitters were game for some eats, even if they ordered off-menu.
The Queen of Dragons herself, Emilia Clarke, hit up the first floor’s dining room with a friend and fellow Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Missandei.
Khaleesi enjoyed a specialty gluten-free and vegan pasta dish rather than any of the Wagyu beef on the menu. Meanwhile, Emmanuel and their friend dined on some mainstream meats and fish: a 10-ounce filet mignon, 16-ounce prime rib and some Dover sole.
Like music’s favorite couple, Clarke and her pals partook of serious sides, also tackling corn soufflé but also partaking of roasted asparagus, sautéed mushrooms and hashbrowns.
Clarke was in town for Comicpalooza, and also hit up the Toyota Center to watch James Harden and Steph Curry face off.
That ’70s Show cast member Wilmer Valderrama, another Comicpalooza attendee, was yet another Hollywood favorite to dine at B&B. Fez dined with his girlfriend, ordering a 28-day A5 ribeye that was dry-aged in house.
B&B obviously knows how to handle stars.